CHRISTMAS IN MAY!

[so_low]

K I S S OR T E L L
The Mistletoe with a Twist Meme

➀ There's mistletoe everywhere. Everywhere. You're character is underneath it now.

➁ Once underneath it with someone else they are stuck in place until they do one of two things:
Kiss or Tell a secret about themselves.➂ It doesn't matter who tells their secret, initiates the kiss, etc

Comments

Mami Tomoe | Puella Magi Madoka Magica

[headedforhope]

[looking up at it like WHAT]

[headedforhope]

[Utena's mouth is warm and soft against her skin. Mami tries to ignore the sensation, gold eyes casing over and looking beyond the other girl. She tries to move her foot, and-

NOPE.]

I don't think so.

[ofnobility]

Really? [She tries to move too, and makes a face.] Oi, guess not. I could try kissing your cheek. [Utena knows fairy tales though, more than anything else, and is aware fairy tale logic is happening here. Only real kisses break spells. For Mami's benefit however, she'll try every other method before resorting to that.]

[headedforhope]

[Breathes out a quiet sigh through her small, perfect teeth; if Utena wasn't looking, she'd flick her eyes upward as to seek deliverance.

Which is probably a good thing, because the first thing she'd see is that damn mistletoe, mocking how all her little rules concerning distance and privacy are being dismantled.] All right, I'll hold still.

[ofnobility]

[Utena is not the best at reading between the lines when words are concerned, but she knows body language well enough, and bites the inside of her lip. She feels bad, but...]

Okay. I'll make it quick. [She leans in then, and kisses Mami's cheek. It's chaste--like a kiss between children.

Utena's pretty sure she knows the answer already, but she asks anyway:] How about now?

[headedforhope]

[A soft, sudden noise of surprise and her cheeks flush a little. When was the last time someone kissed her, chaste or otherwise? Snippets of a warning spoken to Madoka come back to her, now: "you won't have time for fun, or a boyfriend."

It takes a lot to not look at Utena now, even as Mami tilts her head a little closer in resigned acceptance.] ....sorry. But thank you for trying. [Trying to find another way, is what she means.]

[ofnobility]

[Utena hears the noise and blushes herself. Intimacy is something she's familiar with--there was Akio, but she was uncomfortable then, and with a virtual stranger she is entirely out of her depth. It's telling, however, that she feels more comfortable here than she was with Akio, that even in this small space she feels less...pressed in and uneasy.

She tries not to think of her own problems, though, focuses instead on Mami.] It's okay. I'm sorry the other ways didn't work. [And she does look sincerely apologetic.

After a moment of slightly awkward silence, Utena lowers her head a bit, puts a finger under Mami's chin in order to gently tilt her head up.] Ah-- [Her voice is higher than usual, tight with nervousness. She doesn't want to screw this up.] Whenever you're ready.

[headedforhope]

It's not your fault, Tenjou-san. [And it's then that she looks at Utena, her gold eyes bright and her gaze unflinching. She's afraid- she's been afraid of closeness for a long time now, from anyone, as much as the fear sat uneasily next to the desire for that very same thing. But Mami won't let an ounce of the feeling that's reducing her legs to jelly show; in her line of work, if you reveal something like that, well. You're as good as dead.

She moves a little closer, until their noses are about to touch and she can feel Utena's warm breath on her mouth. The gaze becomes hooded, and her reply comes in a quiet but calm whisper:] Okay.

[ofnobility]

[Utena meets Mami's gaze, tries not to let her nervousness show on her face. Kissing someone and being kissed is entirely different, to her. She's only experienced the latter, and never with a girl. But they can't stay here forever. ...And it won't be so bad. It's just a kiss. She doesn't have to be nervous, she convinces herself. This is no betrayal to Akio, to Anthy. To her prince.

She closes the distance between them, closes her eyes. The kiss is barely there at first, little more than her brushing her lips against Mami's own. She touches her cheek, presses closer.]

[headedforhope]

[There's a flare of sudden heat in her gut, crawling up to flush her cheeks and make something in her chest tighten. No, the contact is not magical, nothing cliche- but Mami's having a hard time imagining worse, and she's put some thought into this (once hypothetical) situation over time.

A lot of thought, yes, and it was always accompanied by a hollow feeling that soon enough gave way to bitterness. But for the moment there's none of that, just warmth- just an unexpected relief.

Denial, too, of course, but that feeling is so much lighter than guilt or shame. Mami deepens the kiss and tells herself that she just wants it to be over with.]

[ofnobility]

[There's a certain warmth and softness to this that sets Utena at ease and makes her relax into the kiss. There is no ulterior motive, no castles and talks of princes, just the simple, innocent pleasure of human contact. It's been a long time since she's experienced that.

She's surprised when Mami deepens the kiss, but not displeased. It occurs to her that she should be concerned about that, but she can't be bothered to do so now, and doesn't want to, besides.

The kiss can't last forever though, and eventually she pulls back. Opens her eyes and blinks. She looks equal parts embarrassed, startled and pleased.]

[headedforhope]

[And Mami just looks....well, not blank anymore, that's for sure. Not even she can pull that off when her face is so flushed and her bright gold eyes are clouded over. Without thinking, she touches her mouth with the fingertips of one hand- as if the lingering heat she feels there might just be another lie and so must be tested.

She certainly doesn't have the presence of mind to move away, either, just yet.]

[ofnobility]

[If Utena was particularly inclined to move herself, she would step back, reestablish their distance. As it is, she stays mostly still, allowing Mami the chance to regain her bearings. She's suddenly all nerves too - the kiss is over and so she is unsure on what to do, other than wait.

She can't really look at Mami for too long, so instead she tilts her head up to stare at the mistletoe that got them into this mess in the first place, and quietly wonders if the spell has been broken.

Finally, she clears her throat and asks:] Are you okay?

[headedforhope]

[Mami starts at the sound of Utena's voice, blinking hard as she comes back to reality.]

Y...Yes.

[There's just the smallest pause afterward, wherein a hundred walls are drawn back up.

A shade regretfully? Maybe. But that's something for her to mull over on another day.] I'm fine, Tenjou-san.

[ofnobility]

[The formal term of address makes Utena remember where she is, who she's with, and she steps back, uncomfortable for another reason.

The idea of intimacy of any sort out of necessity or duty is unnerving to her, and even though she knows there is no emotional connection here, should not be, it bothers her all the same.] Right. Umm...I think...I think whatever that was has stopped now. [The smile is back in place now, though it's a little strained.] We're free to go!

[headedforhope]

[She takes a step back, keeping her gaze focused downward on the movement instead of Utena, and allows herself to breathe in. Yes, good; maintain the distance, in word and deed, and everything's fine.]

Seems so, huh? That was...remarkably simple.

[a weak sort of chuckle]